To hear our muse, we need to be present in our body. Listening from this place is key. In this free-flowing dance invitation you will have the opportunity to tune into your body and listen from your whole body as you move.
What you need:
- A clear space, 5 x 6 feet minimal, to move in. Inside or outside is great.
- A 20-40 minute playlist of music or a CD that you enjoy. Find music that helps you feel at ease and alert. One of my favorite composers for this is Ludovico Einaudi. His music moves me, helps me to just listen, and is both intriguing and meditative. Mobi’s album Play is more upbeat, any of Angela DuBeau & La Pieta’s albums also work well for this dance.
Suggestion: Like other meditations, I suggest you read the guidelines and take a few moment to absorb the words. Don’t worry about doing it right or remembering everything. Make this meditation work for you. Tune in. What does deep listening feel like in your body?
Warm-up: Take a few deep breaths. Drop into your body and gently move to warm up your body. With your feet firmly on the ground, see if you can listen to how your body parts need to move. Feel your joints and the connections between all the different parts of your body. Gently stretch your whole body from head to toes.
Just listening: When you feel warmed up, put the music on and start by listening. Don’t move, just listen. Take a few minutes to listen and simply feel the music coming into your body.
Listen and move: When you feel ready, begin to move from this listening place. Listen to the music and listen to how your body needs to move. Can you find a place of just simply listening with ease? Can you find a place of listening that is a felt sense with your whole body? Every so often, pause and notice what else is there? Ask yourself, what else am I not hearing? How else can I listen? Can I listen from my feet, from my belly, from my elbows? Allow your whole body to respond and move from a deep listening place.
Closure: At the end, take a few moments to reflect on your experience. You might want to jot down a few lines in a journal what you experienced.
Enjoy this dance meditation!